Gesmer & Updegrove

What Gesmer & Updegrove does

Gesmer Updegrove LLP is a Boston-based, full-service law firm founded in 1986 by Lee Gesmer and Rick Lucash as the 'Computer Law Firm,' making it an early pioneer in technology law. The firm operates from a single office at 40 Broad Street in Boston's Financial District and employs approximately 50 attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff, including a Managing Partner (Aaron Kriss), department heads in Litigation (Michael Brier), Corporate (John Cohan), and Intellectual Property (Matthew Connors), and dedicated practices in AI, securities/fintech, M&A, venture financing, and standards/open source. Gesmer Updegrove serves technology companies across all stages, from formation through exit, as well as venture capital investors, standards organizations, and regulated entities, with a documented track record of advising more than 6,000 companies, $8.2 billion in M&A transactions, $7.9 billion in financing, and 185+ technology consortia launched.

The firm's service offering spans 20 practice areas including Venture Capital Financing, M&A, Patent/Trademark/Copyright, Securities Regulation & Financial Services, Securities Enforcement and Investigations, Outside General Counsel, AI Legal Services, Standards & Open Source, Tax, Litigation, Employment Law, and Technology Licensing. Revenue is generated primarily through hourly billing for transactional and litigation matters, fixed-fee arrangements for certain transactions, and ongoing outside general counsel retainers. The firm joined the Mackrell International network in 2018 to support cross-border matters and acquired Gauthier & Connors in the 2010s to build its in-house intellectual property practice.

Gesmer Updegrove pursues a hybrid go-to-market combining traditional partner-led legal sales with community-driven ecosystem engagement in the Boston technology market. The firm distributes thought leadership through MassLawBlog, ConsortiumInfo.org, Anderson Insights (20,000+ subscribers, 170,000+ YouTube subscribers), video content, client success stories, and curated events such as Founder's Cellar. The firm does not develop proprietary technology products; its competitive position rests on partner expertise, four decades of category leadership in technology law, and integration into the Boston founder-investor-standards ecosystem.

Name

Gesmer & Updegrove

Legal name

Gesmer Updegrove LLP

Website

https://gesmer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gesmer Updegrove LLP is a Boston-based full-service law firm founded in 1986 that provides legal counsel to technology companies, venture investors, and standards organizations across formation, financing, M&A, IP, AI, and litigation matters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Securities Law (BPAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)

Keywords

• Technology law services
• Venture capital financing
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Intellectual property counsel
• Corporate legal advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Transactional: Hourly billing and fixed fees for corporate transactions including M&A, venture financing, securities offerings, and licensing. Revenue is generated through attorney time billing at established rates.
2. Legal Services - Litigation: Hourly billing for litigation representation in commercial disputes, IP litigation, employment matters, and business litigation. May include contingency or fixed-fee arrangements for certain matters.
3. Legal Services - Advisory: Ongoing outside general counsel retainers and advisory arrangements for emerging and established technology companies. Provides continuous legal support for business operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Gesmer Updegrove LLP is a full-service law firm providing strategic legal counsel to technology companies, emerging businesses, and established enterprises across 20 practice areas. The firm represents clients in venture capital financing, M&A, intellectual property prosecution and litigation, securities regulation and enforcement, employment law, tax planning, technology licensing, and standards-setting/open source matters. Engagement formats include transactional representation, ongoing outside general counsel retainers, and litigation defense.

Product overview

Gesmer Updegrove is a full-service law firm offering comprehensive legal services through a unified platform of practice areas. The firm provides strategic legal counsel to technology companies, emerging businesses, and established enterprises through 20 distinct practice areas including Venture Capital Financing, Mergers & Acquisitions, Intellectual Property (Patent, Trademark, Copyright), Securities Regulation & Financial Services, Securities Enforcement and Investigations, Outside General Counsel, Artificial Intelligence Legal Services, Standards & Open Source, Tax, Financing, Litigation, Employment Law, Business Formation, and Technology Licensing. The practice areas work together to serve clients across all stages of business growth, from formation through exit transactions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Venture Capital Financing Legal counsel for venture capital financings, angel investments, and early-stage company funding, advising issuers, investors, and founders on financing documentation and deal structuring.
• Mergers & Acquisitions Legal representation for M&A transactions, including buy-side and sell-side advisory, due diligence, deal structuring, and related negotiations.
• Outside General Counsel Ongoing legal advisory services serving as external general counsel for emerging and mid-market technology companies across their operational needs.
• Patent Patent prosecution, portfolio management, and strategic IP counseling for technology companies.
• Trademark Trademark registration, prosecution, and enforcement services for brand protection.
• Copyright Legal protection and enforcement of copyright interests, including registration, licensing, and infringement matters.
• Technology Licensing Legal services for software licensing, technology licensing, and IP licensing arrangements.
• Litigation Commercial litigation services including contract disputes, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and business disputes.
• Securities Regulation & Financial Services Legal counsel on securities regulation, broker-dealer compliance, fintech regulatory matters, and digital asset issues.
• Securities Enforcement and Investigations Legal representation in SEC investigations, enforcement proceedings, internal investigations, and regulatory disputes.
• Capital Markets Legal services for capital market transactions, securities offerings, and financial regulatory compliance.
• Financing Legal services for debt financing, credit facilities, and structured financing arrangements.
• Employment Law Legal counsel on employment matters including discrimination, retaliation, wage issues, and restrictive covenants.
• Business Formation Legal counsel for starting and structuring new businesses, including entity selection, governance, and formation documentation.
• Artificial Intelligence Legal Services Legal advisory services for AI-related matters including AI patent strategy, AI and copyright law, and AI's impact on corporate transactions.
• Standards & Open Source Legal services for standards organizations, open source licensing, and technology consortia.
• Tax Tax planning and advisory services for transactions, equity compensation, and business structuring.
• Restructuring, Workouts & Bankruptcy Legal counsel for corporate restructuring, debt workouts, and bankruptcy proceedings.
• Real Estate Legal services for real estate transactions, construction disputes, and condominium law.
• Professional Liability Legal defense services for professional liability claims and malpractice matters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served more than 6,000 scaling companies over four decades
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mackrell InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Gesmer Updegrove joined Mackrell International in 2018, a Chambers-ranked global law firm network. This partnership enables seamless cross-border collaboration for international client matters and connects the firm to a broader global platform while maintaining partner-led service. Braeden Anderson holds international leadership roles through Mackrell, chairing the Blockchain & Digital Assets Group and Securities Enforcement & Investigations Group.
• Securities DocketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBraeden Anderson serves on the 2025 and 2026 Advisory Boards of Securities Docket, contributing video commentary through the Weekly Update. Securities Docket is a platform for securities enforcement and regulatory professionals.
• Lucille Wine ShopminorOthersSommelier services provided at Founder's Cellar event hosted at Gesmer's Boston office. Partnership for community-building event.
• Linux FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrew Updegrove serves on the Board of Directors of the Linux Foundation, one of the world's leading open source organizations. Deep partnership in standards and open source ecosystem.
• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrew Updegrove represents and advises the W3C on standards setting and consortium matters. Long-standing relationship with major international standards body.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Latham & Watkins: Global law firm with a top-tier technology transactions, M&A, and securities practice. Competes for larger emerging-company and public-company tech mandates where Gesmer's smaller scale is a constraint.

Direct peers

• Cooley LLP: Major technology-focused law firm representing startups, venture capital, and public technology companies across corporate, M&A, securities, IP, and litigation. Directly competes with Gesmer for emerging-company and VC financing work in Boston and nationwide.
• Mintz Levin: Boston-headquartered national firm with significant technology, IP, and venture capital practices. Competes with Gesmer for Boston-based emerging-company and technology transactional work.
• Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati: Premier technology law firm with deep practices in venture financing, M&A, securities, and IP for technology and life sciences companies. A benchmark peer for Gesmer's core emerging-company and public-company technology practice.
• Goodwin Procter LLP: Boston-headquartered national law firm with one of the largest technology and life sciences practices. Competes directly with Gesmer for venture financings, M&A, and IP matters involving Boston-area emerging companies.
• Gunderson Dettmer: Leading venture capital and emerging-company law firm focused exclusively on technology and life sciences. Directly comparable to Gesmer's VC financing, formation, and emerging-growth practice.
• Foley Hoag LLP: Boston-based law firm with a strong technology, life sciences, and emerging companies practice. Direct Boston-market competitor for venture financings, IP, and technology transactions.
• Fenwick & West: Silicon Valley-based technology law firm specializing in venture capital, M&A, securities, and IP for high-tech and life sciences companies. Closely comparable practice mix to Gesmer's tech-focused offering.

Regional players

• Choate Hall & Stewart: Boston-based law firm with a technology and life sciences practice serving emerging and growth-stage companies. Comparable regional competitor in the Boston emerging-company market.
• Nutter McClennen & Fish: Boston-based law firm with a technology and emerging companies practice. Competes with Gesmer in the Boston mid-market for emerging-company and venture financing matters.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gesmer-updegrove-llp
• Xx.com/gesmerupdegrove
• Facebookfacebook.com/gesmerupdegrove

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gesmer & Updegrove